Interview w/ The Basics

Back with another all new interview in my ongoing series. Today, we sit down for a chat with Melbourne, Australia's The Basics. The band was formed in 2002 by Wally DeBacker (more popularly known by the stage name Gotye), and maintained a small but loyal following in their native country, playing over 1,000 shows and evoking a sense of humor and vivacity in their live performances as well. We caught up with the members of the group during their self-imposed hiatus to get a better sense of their beginnings and how their music is created in the first place. Here is the transcript from that interview:

- Give your names and positions in the band?

Col. Wally De Backer, Intelligence and Drums

Staff Sgt. Tim Heath, Gunnery and Guitar

Capt. Kris Schroeder, Reconnaissance and Bass

(shared vocal duties as required)

- How and when did the band form?

Ancient Scripture quotes the following Genesis story:

"In the Worlds before The Basics, primal chaos reigned.
Heaven sought order, but the Phoenix can fly only when its feathers are grown.
The four worlds formed again and yet again, as endless aeons wheeled and passed.
Time and the pure essences of Heaven, the moistures of the Earth, and the powers of the Sun and the Moon
all worked upon a certain rock - old as Creation, and it magically became fertile.
That first egg was named "Rock 'n' Roll".
Tathagata Buddha, the Father Buddha, said, 'With our Rock we make the world.'
Elemental forces caused the egg to hatch: from it there came a stone The Basics.
The nature of The Basics was ... irrepressible!"

- What initially inspired your foray into music, were you always into music even at a young age?

From the youngest age (which I assume would be "1"). Our reasons were obviously different, but all three of us needed an outlet, somewhere secret to express ourselves in the oppression you can face at home and at school. I guess we were all black sheep in our own way, seemingly bleating a different bleat to the rest.

- How do you guys normally go about writing and recording your music, what is each members duty or does one person handle all the lyrics?

Eh, it just kinda... happens. Wally and Kris typically handle the songwriting together, sometimes more collaborative, sometimes less. But when we get together to 'learn' the song - that is to say put it together - everyone has an opinion and everyone's opinion counts.

As for the recording, well we've done it so many different ways from the old 4-track Tascam Tape Recorder, right through the to 144-channel desk in Abbey Road's Studio 3. Now THAT was fun.

- What are some of your favorite songs that you guys have recorded together?

Wow, big question. Okay the short-list might be Get Me Down, I Could Be Happy, The Executioner, Wait For You, With This Ship. That's a pretty-good cross-section. They all have something unique about them.

- What is your take on music being used in films and TV shows, do you feel more able of reaching people through this medium than on record or at shows?

Well we've had a bunch of songs used in film and TV - Scrubs, The Bank Job, Californication, just to name a few - and I don't know about the reach, but the money sure is good. Also it's pretty cool when you're just kicking back and it just comes on and you're like "Hmmm... this sounds familiar..." until you realise it's actually you.

- What do yo make of the success of Gotye with his debut solo album "Making Mirrors" and all the success surrounding it?

Well his debut album "Boardface" only sold a few hundred copies, "Like Drawing Blood" was pretty huge though, only bolstered by the "Mixed Blood" remix album. He's done great!

- Do you guys plan on getting back together and hitting the studio sometime soon to record some new material?

There's no concrete plans, but there's been a bit of talk. Sometimes it's better to quit while you're ahead, but I feel like we've still got at least one more album in us. I guess we just have to have something to say, and if we do... who knows.

- What do you gentlemen like to do in your spare time away from making music?

Sit somewhere quiet, sometimes with friends, just enjoy the serenity that the World offers. Good conversation, good food, good wine also. You only live once, so it's good to make the most of it.

- How would you describe the sound of The Basics to those who have never heard of your music?

The best sh!t you've never heard.

Thanks once again to the gentlemen of The Basics for being so kind in taking some time away from their sabbatical to do this interview. The guys are definitely a quirky bunch as you may have read, and definitely enjoy being in each others' company. For more information on The Basics, 'Like' their page on Facebook here, check out their music via their official website here, and also via their YouTube channel as well from right over here.